No Place Like Home

"Hey, Wakaba, what time is it?" Feng Lan floated in the water and asked idly.

Wakaba glanced at his watch. "Uh... around 4:30. There are still three hours until dark."

Laxus drifted around like a salted fish. "So boring... Feng Lan, Wakaba, the three of us should find something to do."

Wakaba shrugged. "I want to go too, but where would we go? Do you want to go out wearing dresses?"

Feng Lan thought for a moment. "It's not like there's nowhere we can go."

Wakaba and Laxus's eyes lit up. "Where?"

Feng Lan pointed at a submerged abandoned building in the deep sea. "Look at that building over there. Want to explore it? Maybe we'll strike it rich."

"I think it's worth a try, but won't we suffocate? The water's so deep..." Wakaba asked worriedly.

Feng Lan made two bubble helmets and placed them over Wakaba and Laxus's heads. "With these, you can breathe. Try diving down."

The two plunged into the water, and sure enough, they were able to breathe freely underwater.

Wakaba said in amazement, "This is incredible, but don't you need one?"

Feng Lan shook his head. "I don't need one. It'd be a bit redundant for me."

Laxus explained to the utterly confused Wakaba, "Feng Lan can breathe underwater directly. He doesn't need a helmet."

Before long, the three of them arrived inside the building.

Feng Lan thought for a moment. "Let's split up. Then we'll see who finds the best stuff!"

Laxus and Wakaba nodded in agreement. "Sure! Let's compete!"

With that, Laxus and Wakaba flew off one after the other, leaving Feng Lan alone in a mess.

Feng Lan sighed and shook his head. "What's the rush? I wanted to tell them to be careful... Forget it. With their strength, nothing should happen."

With that, Feng Lan swam in as well...

"Seriously... why isn't there anything valuable at all?" Feng Lan said disdainfully. "Let's check this room."

As he spoke, Feng Lan kicked open a door and slowly swam inside. "This is... a laboratory?"

The moment Feng Lan entered, the sight before him gave him a fright: a dilapidated laboratory, shattered experimental equipment strewn across the floor, and several long-rotted corpses.

"Roar!" Several furious roars came from the darkness as two or three shadows lunged at Feng Lan.

"Onikiri, Spider Sever!" Feng Lan swiftly equipped twin blades and cut down the two or three shadows in an instant.

Feng Lan turned to look, and his heart trembled. The shadows were several humanoid monsters that were neither human nor ghost, grotesque beyond belief. Even their faces had rotted beyond recognition.

Feng Lan paid them little mind and carefully moved deeper inside.

"Tch, all the readable records are ruined. Wait, this is..." Suddenly, Feng Lan discovered a stone carved with words. ＜Even if that XXXXX-sama is absent, we cannot give up. For our lofty ideals, for that person's ideals, we swear to complete the experiment XXXXX...

Today's experiment failed again. The genetic fusion experiment involving XXXX truly isn't simple. We created another batch of incomplete XXX monsters. Even the complete ones can't be controlled, but that person has already dealt with them...

Damn it, this research facility has fallen. Those monsters are terrifying. XXXXX-sama, where are you? XXXXX has already been destroyed... Even we have been affected by this research regarding XXXX... Save us...＞

"Phew..." Feng Lan let out a heavy breath. "Time has worn away many of the words, so they can't be read clearly anymore. Still, it's better than nothing... Time to go."

After laying the monsters that had attacked him to rest, Feng Lan mourned them for a few seconds. "Rest in peace... victims of inhuman experiments."

Feng Lan arrived at the building's entrance and waited for Wakaba and Laxus. Who was that person... What exactly were the experiments here... Are they still continuing...?

"Hey, Feng Lan, what are you thinking about?" Laxus asked, patting Feng Lan.

Feng Lan suddenly came back to his senses. "It's nothing. I'm just a little tired..."

Wakaba nodded hesitantly. "Then let's hurry up and head back. It's about time."

With that, the three of them quickly swam toward the surface.

The three emerged from the water uneasily, looked at the pale white moon, then blacked out and fainted.

When they woke up again, they looked each other over. "We changed back!"

The three hurried back to the dormitories and discovered that all the "beauties" had returned to being men.

Early the next morning.

Makarov clapped his hands and gathered everyone in the guild. "Good morning, everyone!"

Feng Lan waved. "Morning... We're going back today, right?"

Makarov nodded. "That's right. After having fun these past few days, I believe everyone's spirits have improved. So today, we'll be returning to the guild and getting back to work! Go pack your luggage."

With that, everyone in the guild carried their luggage aboard the ship. Around lunchtime, they finally arrived back at the guild.

Feng Lan and the others rushed into the guild. "Ahh~ The guild really is the most comfortable place. Fairy Tail is the best!"

"Hey, you damn flame! Are you asking for a beating!?" Gray shouted, pointing at Natsu's nose.

Natsu shot back without backing down, "Bring it on! You exhibitionist ice bastard!"

Cana pulled Erza toward the guild entrance. "Erza, hurry up! I heard the cake shop has new items~"

Erza asked excitedly, "Really!? I want to try them!"

Lisanna ran over to Mira and Elfman. "Mira, Elfman, let's go home! I kept a diary these past few days~ You two should read it."

Wendy clung to Feng Lan and said coquettishly, "Big brother, Wendy wants to eat the food you make... Will you go home and cook for me~?"

Feng Lan patted Wendy's little head. "All right, all right, let's go home. I'll make whatever you want to eat!"

"We're heading back first, or our wives will scold us." Macao and Wakaba chatted briefly before leaving as well.

Gildarts waved. "Guild Master, I'll be going too."

In an instant, only Makarov and Laxus remained in the guild.

Makarov asked in confusion, "What is it? Do you need something?"

Laxus shrugged and tossed Makarov a Magic Sealing Stone. "Nothing. Your Magic Sealing Stone. Keep it safe yourself next time, old man..."

Makarov froze at first, then said in shock, "Laxus, what did you just call me?"

"Hmph." Laxus proudly turned his head away. "Nothing... You must have heard wrong!"

With that, Laxus walked out of the guild.

Makarov looked at the Magic Sealing Stone in his hand and smiled contentedly. "Laxus... You've finally acknowledged me... Thank you."

"Knock, knock—knock, knock—" A series of knocks sounded. Makarov quickly composed himself. "Come in!"

"Hello." A frog-like Magic Council member walked in. "Um... Fairy Tail's Guild Master, Mr. Makarov, please hurry and attend this regular meeting, or you'll be late..."

Makarov said in alarm, "Oh no, I forgot... Hurry!"